Felon sentenced to 5 years on gun, drug charges

SEATTLE — A Snohomish felon accused of selling guns and drugs to undercover cops was sentenced Friday to five years in federal prison.

Patrick Kelly Ankrom, 48, was caught up in a police sting dubbed “Operation Oliver Twist.” Seattle police, FBI and ATF set up a storefront fencing operation and bought drugs and stolen property, including guns.

Ankrom was indicted in February 2012 and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and illegal gun possession. In 2011, he fenced two handguns and a rifle, all stolen during burglaries. He also repeatedly sold oxycodone, a powerful painkiller, to undercover cops.

As part of the operation, detectives purchased more than 900 stolen items, including vehicles, computers, passports and credit cards. They also seized 27 stolen guns. One purchase netted them military-grade explosives from a convicted felon, according to Seattle police.

Ankrom also is serving a 17-month sentence for a conviction out of Snohomish County.